Nearly a dozen dogs and their family members didn’t let the drizzle dampen their spirits as they donned costumes and attended the Halloween Pet Parade and Family Walk at the LaPorte County Small Animal Shelter Sunday, Oct. 15, 2017. The event was held to raise funds for Haydan’s Helping Hand, which will help provide an autism service dog for 6-year-old Haydan Spoor of LaPorte.

Dogs and their owners received a doggie goodie bag and a pet photo by Sara Kessler. LaPorte County Sheriff John Boyd and Haydan teamed up to judge the costumes, with awards going to the best, scariest, most original and funniest.

Haydan Spoor struggles with everyday tasks and safety issues. He is very afraid of loud noises and public places and gets easily overwhelmed. When he’s overwhelmed or overstimulated, he has meltdowns, runs away or hides. He finds it difficult to sleep regularly. Haydan’s future best friend, Trooper, is being trained in North Carolina.

The process to bring Trooper to Haydan’s aid totals $15,900. While a gofundme page (https://www.gofundme.com/28bkz7w) has raised a good amount, more is still needed.